Law enforcement in Sacramento are working a gunfire incident that erupted Saturday night April 18 at Howe Community Park in the Arden-Arcade area as law enforcement were dissolving a large unsanctioned party of a crowd of several hundred.
Prior to the Shooting
Sacramento County law enforcement initially got calls about the park shortly before 6:30 Saturday evening after getting calls of subjects reportedly carrying hidden weapons. Shortly after, additional information came in regarding a possible physical fight taking place at Howe Park.
Air support searched from above but could not confirm any ongoing fight. Despite this, it was apparent that an enormous crowd had gathered without authorization in an unauthorized manner.
How the Shooting Unfolded
Responding units moved to clear the area by setting up around the park's perimeter and using their vehicle PA systems commanding the crowd to go home. Around 15 minutes were given for the gathering to break up.
At the height of the dispersal effort that between 20 and 25 rounds cut through the air. The barrage of gunfire triggered a stampede. Law enforcement immediately began identifying shooting victims.
Four Victims Hospitalized
By the time the scene was secured, four gunshot victims were located with gunshot injuries. The victims — made up of one woman and three men all believed to be in their early to late twenties — were transported to nearby hospitals. Emergency physicians stated that two had critical injury classifications, one of the four had moderate gunshot wounds, and Cottage Way shooting Sacramento one suffered minor injuries. Thankfully, all four were expected to survive.
The Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department assisted at the location and helped triage the four victims prior to hospital transport.
Physical Evidence
Most of the gunfire was believed to have happened adjacent to Cottage Way next to the local Home Depot located at the 2200 block of Howe Avenue. Law enforcement investigators recovered extra shell casings on Cottage Way. Bullet damage were discovered in the wrought iron perimeter fencing alongside the nearby Home Depot. This ballistic evidence suggested that a shooter had been discharging rounds toward the south from the Cottage Way area toward the Home Depot. That Home Depot location was put under lockdown during the incident. CSI units alongside detectives worked tirelessly well into the night.
Suspect Vehicle Located
Information relayed through law enforcement radio communications established that a Kia vehicle was contacted by law enforcement in an area within Solano County. Four individuals were stopped and detained. Deputies were dispatched to Solano County to return them to Sacramento for processing in Sacramento County. Video reviewed at the scene revealed that two separate shooters participated in the incident.